Celebrating 25 Years of Collaboration with St. Louis Children’s Hospital
ST LOUIS (November 7, 2024) – For more than 25 years, The Magic House has worked with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, a part of BJC Health, to enhance exhibits and programs that inspire imagination, learning, and well-being for families. Beginning with their first gift in 1997, this collaboration has grown into a lasting relationship dedicated to enriching the lives of children in our community.
Together, The Magic House and St. Louis Children’s Hospital have introduced innovative exhibits, supported health and safety initiatives, provided spaces where families feel welcome and cared for, and extended their impact beyond the museum through outreach programs at the hospital. These programs bring hands-on learning and playful experiences directly to patients and families, ensuring that the Magic House mission reaches children wherever they are.
Today, that commitment continues with the recent updates to two beloved spaces, the Calming Corner and the Children’s Village Hospital exhibit, made possible through the generous sponsorship and expert guidance of St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Children’s Village Hospital Exhibit
This hands-on exhibit invites children to step into the role of a nurse, doctor, or health care professional caring for newborn babies in a realistic hospital setting. Young visitors can dress up as healthcare heroes while using the baby care checklist and medical supplies. This provides an engaging way to learn about medical professions and caregiving. The renovation includes a refreshed nurses’ station and nursery area, along with new signage highlighting the critical roles of healthcare professionals.
Calming Corner
Designed as a dedicated space for nursing mothers and children who need a quiet private moment in a soothing environment away from the sensory stimulation of the museum. With guidance from specially trained experts from St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Child Life and occupational therapy teams, these intentional and thoughtful updates include new flooring, a nursing rocker, calming wall coverings, improved lighting, a bubble tube feature, and sensory activities. These enhancements create a supportive space for families who need a quiet moment during their visit.
“We are grateful to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for helping us create spaces that not only spark imagination but also support the diverse needs of our visitors,” said Beth Fitzgerald, President of The Magic House. “These enhancements ensure every family feels welcome and valued.”
St. Louis Children’s Hospital is continuously ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report – No. 1 in Missouri, No. 1 in St. Louis, and No. 3 in the Midwest region.
In addition to these exhibits, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Safety Stop, led by certified safety experts, offers free consultations related to car seats, helmet, home, and sleep information. This program is available to parents and expectant parents, who can
register online to participate. It takes place on Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the
Museum’s Conference Room. The Magic House is also dedicated to promoting active outdoor play as a crucial part of childhood development. In partnership with Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the outdoor exhibit spaces include sunscreen stations. These stations, provide complimentary SPF 30 sunscreen to families visiting the Museum.
Both spaces are included with regular admission. For more information, visit magichouse.org.
About The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum
The Magic House is a not-for-profit participatory museum that provides hands-on learning experiences that spark imagination, pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills within a place of beauty, wonder, joy, and magic. Serving more than 550,000 visitors annually, the Museum has 55,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits designed for children ages 2-11 years. In 2019, the Museum opened a 7,000 square foot satellite location in the City of St. Louis, MADE for Kids, that contains a Makers Space, Art Studio, Design Lab and Entrepreneur Marketplace geared for children 4-14 years.
To stay up-to-date with The Magic House, visit www.magichouse.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.